Noozhawk is proud to sponsor the Santa Barbara Foundation’s 81st annual “Persons” of the Year luncheon, which this year will celebrate two richly deserving men: my friend, Jim Morouse, and Peter Schuyler.

Morouse, who made his mark with a career in global marketing for some of the world’s most high-profile brands, has been a longtime volunteer, with leadership roles at Westmont College, the Santa Barbara Foundation, the Lobero Theatre Foundation and Leading from Within.

Schuyler has been a passionate advocate for causes and organizations that work as hard as he does on behalf of the environment. The Community Environmental Council, Fairview Gardens, Midland School, the Environmental Defense Center and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden have all benefited from his commitment.

If you can’t make it to the sold-out April 17 luncheon at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, our Ann Pieramici will have profiles of each local legend publishing over the weekend.

Congratulations to Jim and Peter.

According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk drew an audience of 139,467 readers this past week.

What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading during that stretch. And while you’re reading this, remember that this is my opinion column and not a news story.

1. Spectators Take in Solar Eclipse at Goleta Watch Party

It wasn’t the total solar eclipse that darkened a large swath of North America on April 8, but a partial solar eclipse showed out over Santa Barbara County instead.

The main event was the first total solar eclipse since 2017, and you’ll have to wait till 2044 for the next one.

Our Rebecca Caraway dropped by Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta to shadow an eclipse watch party hosted by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit.

Jasmine Kova told Rebecca it was exciting to look through all the different telescopes as the moon and sun were beginning to converge.

“There is a little bit of adrenaline when you look into the telescopes and see that it’s happening,” she said.

Shaokang Li was there with his camera, which included a safety filter attachment so he could take pictures of the eclipse and give others a chance to see it.

“I’m not really into astronomy but the eclipse is pretty rare so I wanted to come out and see it,” he said.

Thank you to Noozhawk readers John Boyd, Fritz Olenberger, Sally Saenger and Lisa Werner for sharing their eclipse photos with us.

2. Proposal to Build Up to 1,000 New Homes on Glen Annie Golf Course Spurs Community Debate

With proponents and opponents already cheering on their sides, the owners of Goleta’s Glen Annie Golf Club are teeing up plans to demolish the existing 18-hole course and replace it with a mixed-use development of 800 to 1,000 new homes.

The proposal for the 175-acre site at 405 Glen Annie Road, across Cathedral Oaks Road from Dos Pueblos High School, will transform the property with an array of apartments, studios and single-family homes, as well as a community center, a child-care center, a swimming pool and hiking trails.

As our Josh Molina reported, the project would require a rezoning approval from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

With that expectation, the developers are discussing plans with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Barbara Unified School District and Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County to incorporate affordable housing.

While neighbors have raised concerns about housing density and traffic, the developers point out that 100 acres of the site would be designated for public use, making it more accessible than the current golf course.

“Right now, it is a golf course and it is limited to people who play golf, and it is such a beautiful space,” said Gelare Macon, a principal planner and project manager with Flowers & Associates of Santa Barbara.

The proposal comes as Santa Barbara County tries to comply with state mandates to identify land for 5,664 new housing units — 4,142 of them on the South Coast.

The Board of Supervisors is to consider the rezone request on April 30.

3. 99 Cents Only Stores to Close in Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria

Citing inflation, shoplifting and the COVID-19 hangover, the 99 Cents Only Store chain is calling it quits, including shutting down all four of its locations in Santa Barbara County.

As our Josh Molina reported, interim CEO Mike Simoncic announced last week that the company was closing its network of 371 stores throughout the West.

The stores have been a mainstay of frugal shoppers since founders Sherry and Dave Gold opened their first 99 Cents Only Store in Los Angeles in 1982.

No sell-by date was provided in the announcement but the company said liquidation is to begin immediately.

In Santa Barbara, the 99 Cents Only Store at 424 State St. is one of the last large corporate retailers in the deserted downtown.

Other stores are located at 1309 N. H St. in Lompoc and at 312 E. Betteravia Road and 1627 N. Broadway in Santa Maria.

“This was an extremely difficult decision and is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve,” Simoncic said in his statement.

“Unfortunately, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment, including the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said changes in consumer demand, inflation and “shrinkage,” i.e., inventory losses from thefts, all contributed to the company’s woes.

4. Favorable Weather Graces SpaceX Rocket for Launch of Military Payload

The U.S. Space Force successfully launched a new U.S. military weather satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base the morning of April 11.

Catching a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off at 7:25 a.m., the Weather System Follow-on – Microwave (WSF-M) satellite was deployed in low-Earth orbit just under an hour later.

As our Janene Scully reported, the mission marks the first of a new generation of satellites that will collect key weather and other environmental data for the U.S. military.

About eight minutes after the launch from Space Launch Complex-4 on South Base, the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster successfully returned to the launch complex. 

5. Thousands Flood Isla Vista for Annual Deltopia Celebration

The 2024 edition of Isla Vista’s annual unsanctioned Deltopia street party brought larger crowds and more arrests and citations compared to 2023. A spike in emergency medical calls on April 6 was mostly attributed to acute alcohol intoxication.

With tens of thousands of college-aged young people mobbing Isla Vista on the first weekend of UC Santa Barbara’s spring quarter, our Josh Molina ventured into the throngs for some on-the-scene reporting along Del Playa Drive and nearby streets.

Our Rebecca Caraway then followed up with statistical details of the Deltopia debauchery.

Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick told her that deputies made 32 misdemeanor arrests and issued 256 citations, up considerably from last year’s 23 arrests and 151 citations.

Although rainy, cold and blustery weather put a damper on the April 5 activities, the crowds swelled throughout the next day.

Zick said deputies are investigating two reports of rape from the weekend but, remarkably, no fatal fentanyl overdoses or cliff falls were reported.

In all, 13 citations were issued for social host violations like noise and partygoers on rooftops.

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Good Reads

Don’t miss these seven stories before you go:

» Locals Make Winning Bid for Santa Barbara News-Press Website, Trademark, Social Media Accounts — There finally has been a small ray of good news to come out of the Santa Barbara News-Press debacle since billionaire Hope Ranch “preservationist” Wendy McCaw began running the once-proud newspaper into the ground nearly a quarter-century ago. Executive editor Giana Magnoli opens the bidding story.

» Developer Rick Caruso Makes Surprise Visit to Meeting About His Miramar Project in Montecito — Neighbors of the Rosewood Miramar Beach crammed into the Montecito Association board meeting to protest aspects of the resort’s plans for an employee housing project. South County editor Josh Molina was there for the spectacle, along with hotel owner Rick Caruso.

» Santa Barbara City Council Caps Cruise Ship Visits, Citing Environmental Concerns — Josh got caught up in the wake from the Santa Barbara City Council driving a speedboat out to limit the number of cruise ship visits. Evidently, when it wants to, the council majority can make a decision without the help of extravagant, out-of-town consultants on a glacial timeline.

» Santa Maria Police Arrest Man in Connection with Shooting of 15-Year-Old Girl — North County editor Janene Scully reports on the arrest of a man suspected of shooting a 15-year-old girl in February.

» Jail Health Care System Problems Highlighted in Community Meeting — Giana yanks off the Band-Aid on some serious health-care deficiencies in the Santa Barbara County Jail.

» Where Are They Now? An Update on Santa Barbara Locals in Professional Baseball — Sports editor Diego Sandoval assembles a pretty strong lineup of local baseball stars in the major and minor leagues.

» Charles Thomson ‘Tom’ Garey of Santa Barbara, 1947-2024 — I never had the privilege of meeting Tom Garey, but he was near and dear to one of my closest friends. Rest in peace.

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Last Year on Noozhawk

What was our most-read story this time last year? Oprah Winfrey’s Montecito Neighbors Raise Concerns about Boulder Wall Built Along Creek.

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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week

Bon voyage: Hulking Houseboat Spotted Floating Across San Francisco Bay.

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Here’s What I’m Up To

• June 6 — I’m not a morning person but the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Breakfast mentioned the possibility of pancakes. I’ll be there early to share Noozhawk’s story and North County expansion plans.

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Best of Bill’s Instagram

My Instagram feed features The Forge, the venerable student newspaper at Santa Barbara High School, along with Team @noozhawk at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Kickoff and a healthy serving of @sadiethealaskanmalamute.

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Watch It

I’m mazed by this Mojave Desert curiosity off I-40 south of Needles. HT to Best of Bill reader Cameron Collins, a dedicated devotee of distinctive desert destinations.